KENT batsman Michael Carberry will hope to line up alongside Test stars Kevin Pietersen and Shane Warne next summer after agreeing to join Hampshire on a two-year-deal.

The former Surrey left-hander grew increasingly frustrated with the lack of first team opportunities at Kent and agreed to cancel the final year of his contract at Canterbury in order to move to the Rose Bowl.

Carberry, 25, spent three summers with Kent after leaving Surrey in 2002 and, after scoring 137 on club debut against Cambridge University CCE, went on to play 27 first-class matches for the county averaging a respectable 37.75.

The former England Under-19 player became a St Lawrence crowd favourite during his 36 appearances in one-day cricket when his dashing batting style and athletic out-fielding caught the imagination.

Yet Carberry’s overall limited overs batting average of 23.74 meant he was never assured a place in the side.

After the departure of Ed Smith and Alex Loudon in 2004 Carberry had hoped for a longer run in the first team, but the close-season signings of Martin van Jaarsveld and Darren Stevens scuppered his hopes and made his position nigh on untenable.